Chapter 65 Echoes of the Weekend
Jason stretched his arms over his head, letting out a dramatic yawn as he leaned back in his chair. "Alright, ladies, what's the plan for today? I say we do something thrilling, something unforgettable. Maybe... skydiving? Shark diving? Oh! What about running with the bulls?"
Roxanne laughed, shaking her head. "You do realize we're at a luxury resort, right? Not an extreme sports retreat."
"Details, details," Jason waved her off, flashing his signature grin. "Come on, Roxy, live a little. I know you've got a wild side in there somewhere."
Lily arched an eyebrow, stirring her iced coffee with slow precision. "Wow, Jason. That was a strong effort. Truly. I almost believed you weren't just trying to impress her."
Jason placed a hand over his heart, feigning offense. "Lily, you wound me. Can a man not simply encourage his friends to embrace adventure?"
Lily smirked. "Sure, except this isn't about adventure. This is about you flirting like a middle schooler with a crush."
Roxanne rolled her eyes but bit back a smile. "Let's stick to something a little less life-threatening. It's our last day here—I want to do something relaxing but memorable."
Jason tapped his chin in thought. "Fine, fine. How about a spa day? We can get matching robes, sip cucumber water, and discuss our deepest emotions."
"That sounds like your personal nightmare," Lily noted dryly. "Also, I'd rather get hit by a golf cart."
Jason snapped his fingers. "Damn, and I was gonna get 'Jason's Favorite Ladies' embroidered on the robes."
Roxanne chuckled. "Alright, how about something a little more exclusive? I heard about the Emerald Pools. Supposedly, they're this hidden gem—private, gorgeous, and completely serene."
Jason leaned in, eyes twinkling. "Are we talking about the pools, or are you describing me?"
Lily groaned. "Oh my God, how do you live with yourself?"
"With great ease and undeniable charm," Jason shot back smoothly. "But, Emerald Pools, huh? Sounds perfect. A little mystery, a little adventure. And if I happen to heroically save Roxanne from a treacherous waterfall, well, that's just a bonus."
Roxanne shook her head, but her cheeks warmed slightly. She was about to brush off his teasing when Jason's gaze lingered just a second too long. It wasn't his usual playful smirk or his over-the-top antics—just a quiet, unreadable look that made her stomach flip before he masked it with another grin. She quickly turned away, pretending she hadn't noticed.
Lily grinned. "She's got a point, Jase. Remember when you walked straight into that glass door at the restaurant?"
Jason huffed. "That door was suspiciously clean. A setup, I tell you."
Lily patted his shoulder. "Of course it was. Now, let's get going before you charm yourself into unconsciousness."
Jason laughed but as they stood to leave, his expression faltered for just a second. This weekend had been nothing short of incredible—laughter, chaos, and moments he never wanted to forget. But underneath it all, a quiet realization settled in his chest. These were his people. His responsibility, in a way. [This story is exclusively available for free on Wattpad. If you see it anywhere else, it has been stolen.] Maybe he played the reckless goofball, but deep down, he just wanted to make sure they were safe, that nothing would take away the easy joy they shared. He shook off the thought, flashing another grin as he threw an arm around Roxanne's shoulders. "Let's make this last adventure count."
With laughter and playful banter lingering between them, the trio set off, the anticipation of their last adventure at the resort sparking an energy none of them wanted to let go of just yet.
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Emilia stirred awake to the sound of off-key singing and the distinct smell of something... burning.
She blinked, adjusting to the golden morning light streaming into their suite. Then she heard it again—Henry, absolutely butchering a song she was pretty sure was,Can't Take My Eyes Off You.
With a groggy groan, she turned toward the source of the chaos. And there he was.
Henry, her ridiculously handsome, utterly exasperating fiancé, standing in the kitchenette in just his boxers. A spatula in one hand, a frying pan in the other, swaying his hips like he was performing for a sold-out stadium.
The pancake in his pan, however, was very much on fire.
"Oh my God," Emilia mumbled, rubbing her face. "Henry, what—"
"Morning, beautiful!" he declared, grinning as he dramatically flipped the flaming pancake onto a plate. He quickly smacked the flames out with the spatula and gestured proudly. "Crisis averted. Breakfast is served."
Emilia slid out of bed, padding over in one of his oversized shirts. She eyed the plate, then looked back at him. "Is this an elaborate plan to burn down our suite?"
He gasped. "How dare you? I am a chef."
She arched an eyebrow, reaching for a piece of bacon. It was surprisingly perfect. "Huh. You actually made something edible."
Henry scoffed. "Obviously. I'm not just a pretty face and incredible abs, you know."
Before she could retort, he reached for the syrup, intending to pour it smoothly over the pancakes—only for it to completely miss the plate and drizzle straight onto Emilia's bare thigh.
They both froze.
Henry cleared his throat. "Okay. So. Technically speaking, this is your fault."
Her jaw dropped. "My fault?"
"Yes," he said matter-of-factly. "Because you're standing there, all gorgeous and distracting—"
Emilia dipped her fingers into the syrup, then, without warning, smeared it straight across his chest.
Henry's eyes widened. "Oh. You wanna play dirty?"
Before she could escape, he grabbed the whipped cream, popping the lid with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You absolute menace," she shrieked, but it was too late—he sprayed a swirl of whipped cream on her nose.
She sputtered, laughing. "You're insufferable."
"And yet, you love me," he teased, wiping a bit of syrup from her skin with his thumb before pressing a quick kiss to her cheek.
Emilia sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately."
Henry grinned. "Come on, eat before I accidentally set something else on fire."
She smirked, grabbing a fork. "That's probably wise."
As they sat down to eat, the morning sun streamed through the windows, laughter filling the air between them. Sticky, chaotic, and utterly in love—just the way they were supposed to be.
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Roxanne rummaged through her suitcase, her fingers hovering over the hot pink bikini that Lily had been relentlessly teasing her about all weekend. She hesitated. It was bold, a little over-the-top, and definitely the kind of thing that would make Jason's eyebrows shoot up with that insufferable, cocky grin of his.
Before she could second-guess herself, Lily's voice rang out from across the room. "Oh, for the love of overpriced resort cocktails, Rox, if you don't put on that damn bikini, I will personally launch your entire wardrobe off the balcony."
Roxanne rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. "You are way too invested in this."
Lily flopped onto the bed, propping herself up on her elbows with a wicked smirk. "You're missing the point. The pink bikini isn't just a bikini—it's a statement. It says, 'Hey world, I am fun, I am hot, and I am not thinking about my ex today.'"
Roxanne huffed, but Lily's words hit a little too close. She stared at the bikini again, chewing on her bottom lip. Maybe Lily was right. Maybe she needed to let loose and stop overthinking things.
But that was easier said than done.
She sat down on the edge of the bed, toying with the strap of the bikini. "You ever feel like... maybe you're just not meant for the whole 'happily ever after' thing?"
Lily, who had been in the middle of taking a sip of her iced coffee, nearly choked. "Uh, what? Since when are you the Queen of Doom and Gloom?"
Roxanne exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know. I look at Emilia with Henry, and they just seem... happy. Like, really, genuinely happy. And I want that. Or at least, I think I do? But I also don't think I deserve it."
Lily's teasing expression softened. "Rox..."
"No, really. Look at my history. Jonas? Disaster. The guy before him? Bigger disaster. It's like I'm drawn to the worst possible choices and then act surprised when it all burns down. So maybe I'm just not meant for more than a good time. No strings, no expectations. Just fun."
Lily sighed, setting down her coffee and scooting closer. "First of all, Jonas was an emotionally unavailable man-child, and that wasn't your fault. Second, you're not broken. You just picked a few losers. And third, saying you don't deserve happiness is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard."
Roxanne let out a dry laugh. "Tell that to the universe."
"Screw the universe. If you want more than just fun, you should have it. And if you don't? That's okay too. But don't let past mistakes make your choices for you."
Roxanne stared down at the pink bikini in her lap. Fun. That's all she needed right now, right? Nothing serious. Nothing complicated.
And yet... as she stood up to change, an image of Jason flashed in her mind—his lingering look, the way his laughter had softened when he thought no one was paying attention. She shook her head, shoving the thought aside.
This was just fun. That's all it could be.
Lily nudged her. "Look, I won't push you. But if you don't put on that bikini and come to the pool, I will steal your good eyeliner."
Roxanne snorted. "You monster."
"Damn right. Now, get dressed. We have a pool to conquer."